Mojave Lever Crew - Roll Call!

[200Apples]

And speaking of your experience and skill in banging red hot iron and in crafting edged tools, do you have a favorite axe?

I ask because I have very recently fallen into the handcrafted Swedish axe rabbit hole. I am now interested in the great axe head forgings of American history.

Yea, it's a burden I bear.

[splithoof]

I ask because I have very recently fallen into the handcrafted Swedish axe rabbit hole. I am now interested in the great axe head forgings of American history.

Now I understand your recent inquiry into axe use; I had until recently a decent collection of various fire-service axes, and can also appreciate other designs to be used for other purposes. As you may recall, I mentioned that modern-day use of the axe in my former profession has changed a bit, although it is still a commonly carried and used tool on certain incidents. There are much more efficient and effective tools however, and in my last years I preferred a well crafted hatchet for a lot of chores.
Still into knives and bayonets, those are now my favorites.

[Horsewright]

And speaking of your experience and skill in banging red hot iron and in crafting edged tools, do you have a favorite axe?

I ask because I have very recently fallen into the handcrafted Swedish axe rabbit hole. I am now interested in the great axe head forgings of American history.

Yea, it's a burden I bear.

I should of mentioned too that strength also depends on type of steel and there are hundreds of formulations, certainly all steels are not created equal for all purposes.

On the axe front I'm gonna have to go Sgt Shultz on ya. "I know nothing", except perhaps how to swing one. We do split some oak around here. However there is a subforum on Blade Forums where the denizens of that particular rabbit hole hold sway. My favorite axe is a Home Depot special I bought about 10 years ago. Its my favorite because I haven't been able to break that yellow nylonish handle yet!

[200Apples]

Now I understand your recent inquiry into axe use; I had until recently a decent collection of various fire-service axes, and can also appreciate other designs to be used for other purposes.

See!

They're like golf clubs, but FAR more useful.

As you may recall, I mentioned that modern-day use of the axe in my former profession has changed a bit, although it is still a commonly carried and used tool on certain incidents. There are much more efficient and effective tools however, and in my last years I preferred a well crafted hatchet for a lot of chores.

The particular axes I've recently acquired are smaller and very handy. One is specifically for splitting rounds.

The next one is Granfors' latest design offering and it is quite similar in size to a tomahawk. They call it the Outdoor Axe. I own their Small Forest Axe and the Small Splitting Axe.

I have owned a fibreglass-handled Crafstman axe for a few years. I can now put a better edge on it, but before I pull up stakes and move to the country I'll have a few more Granfors. They're like lever carbines. Leave 'em alone in the dark and they multiply.

[200Apples]

I should of mentioned too that strength also depends on type of steel and there are hundreds of formulations, certainly all steels are not created equal for all purposes.

Copy that. Yes.

On the axe front I'm gonna have to go Sgt Shultz on ya. "I know nothing", except perhaps how to swing one. We do split some oak around here. However there is a subforum on Blade Forums where the denizens of that particular rabbit hole hold sway. My favorite axe is a Home Depot special I bought about 10 years ago. Its my favorite because I haven't been able to break that yellow nylonish handle yet!

Now THAT's saying something.

One of these days I hope to be tending a fire in your company. Then you'll get to admire (or not) this splitting axe.

And thanks for the reminder of the Blade Forums.

[200Apples]

One more thing:

I dined this morning breaking my fast with some ranch-fresh eggs.

They were, as always, AMAZING.

Thanks again, Split, for the fresh eggs!

[splithoof]

One more thing:

I dined this morning breaking my fast with some ranch-fresh eggs.

They were, as always, AMAZING.

Thanks again, Split, for the fresh eggs!

[200Apples]

They were just flat-out DELICIOUS.

The only thing missing was one of Horsewright's perfectly-aged, well-marbled STEAKS.

[Horsewright]

Here ya go, down Caliente way on the Tollhouse. My son has had my little filly for the past month or so giving her lots of real life lessons. He just does more than we do. We brand every three months he brands for three months! Two days ago was ranch horse ballet training:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFQu8VDFvN/

Apples Always more steers coming along:





Been talking about sharp pointed things too:

[nickel plate]

Ask apples what the smoke date was on his little parchment wrapped and vacuum packed bundle of joy...

Hello Randall,
I'm coming up on what will probably be my last good temperature wise time to smoke some cheeses until next fall/winter.
I have two dates coming up that I'll meet with friends and give them each a couple of bricks from this smoke. The first date is 4/17 and the second is 5/11. Not worried about the first but the second is about two months out.
I don't have a vacuum sealer but I use a different sealing method for zip lock bags. Fill a deep pan with water, cheese in bag, dip all the way down to the zip line (careful not to get water in the bag) then seal. Works a lot better than just hand squeezing the air out.
Do you think the cheese will hold in the refrigerator for two months without getting mold? Mine never lasts that long to find out.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Forging is a method of forming steel into a shape, as is investment casting, as is stock removal, as is cnc machining etc. No forming method makes steel stronger than another forming method. Strength of steel is in the heat treating process not the forming process. Got a little experience in banging steel around into shapes.

Hold the Phone Joan: I've got a little experience in this category as well and mine says Die Forging (not blacksmithing) does increase the tensile strength of certain metals by compressing the molecules closer together. Then heat treating aligns them and finishes the job.

If it didn't, they wouldn't do it. Look how many tools are forged, Wrenches being a great example. They are forged in a die and then after flash removal they are Heat Treated and then polished and plated. They could have been cast with alot less effort and cost but Forging produces a superior tool.

Forging also allows the use of cheaper materials to achieve an "adequate level" of strength where needed as opposed to using more expensive materials where the higher level of tensile strength would be wasted.

Just like every other process there are certain places where it is useful and others where it is not.

In case you haven't noticed there is this thing called a "3D Printer" now?

The machines have been evolving rapidly and they are capable of printing metals now and whereas they are kind of slow right now that will change rapidly as technology advances.

These are the Replicators predicted by "Star Trek" 60 years ago.

Pretty soon all of us "Machinists," will be out of a job!

While on this subject it should be noted that Ruger as a company, operates two major divisions. Gun Making and Investment Casting. Their Investment Casting facility is one of the most sophisticated in the world and does work for everyone that is anyone. I have used them to produce some parts for the Navy. That was 20+ years ago.

From what I have heard from my guys at Ruger, the Marlin Receivers and Levers will continue to be made from forgings, adn we should expect the first guns to come off the line in the late fall.

Randy

.

[lastinline]

Randy, is Ruger going to be using up possibly existing receiver forgings that are left-overs, or will Ruger make newly forged receivers?

[golfish]

Randy, is Ruger going to be using up possibly existing receiver forgings that are left-overs, or will Ruger make newly forged receivers?

I can't answer for Mr barrels, he may have better info than me.

I did read years back that after Rem bought Marlin they were producing lever guys that had the JM stamping on the barrels, and the quality was not good.. That's something that you might want to consider....

[ar15barrels]

Hello Randall,
I'm coming up on what will probably be my last good temperature wise time to smoke some cheeses until next fall/winter.
I have two dates coming up that I'll meet with friends and give them each a couple of bricks from this smoke. The first date is 4/17 and the second is 5/11. Not worried about the first but the second is about two months out.
I don't have a vacuum sealer but I use a different sealing method for zip lock bags. Fill a deep pan with water, cheese in bag, dip all the way down to the zip line (careful not to get water in the bag) then seal. Works a lot better than just hand squeezing the air out.
Do you think the cheese will hold in the refrigerator for two months without getting mold? Mine never lasts that long to find out.

The cheese I gave to Apples was smoked in 2019.
It was smoked, then wrapped in Parchment and then vacuum packed in a foodsaver pouch.
Even if cheese gets some mold on it, you can always slice the moldy part off the outside.
The outside is usually too strong anyways, even after aging.

[lastinline]

I can't answer for Mr barrels, he may have better info than me.

I did read years back that after Rem bought Marlin they were producing lever guys that had the JM stamping on the barrels, and the quality was not good.. That's something that you might want to consider....